Pacific Coast Wrestling: Interviews: Jake Arcola

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An interview with Jake Arcola
By Eugene Curtis

In early 2002, I-Slash witnessed first hand what years of jealousy can cause. Former heavyweight champion Justin Arcola was confronted by his younger brother, Jake Arcola. Jake's spew of hate and jealousy took headlines as the two clashed in the weeks following Jake's initial debut in IWF-WOW.

Jake Arcola came up short against his legendary brother but he left his imprint on the federation that one day, he would like to return to. Jake took time off after being brutally attacked by Matthew Reason, a man he thought was his closest friend. Jake is now fully recovered and has signed a developmental deal with Pacific Coast Wrestling, the regional for I-Slash. I had the time recently to sit down with Jake Arcola and have this exclusive interview concerning his return to the ring.

Jake, thanks for taking this time to sit down with us.

My pleasure, Eugene.

Jake, first off ... how's the body?

Heh, I don't know how some of those guys do it. A few weeks back, I was watching Graphic Nature when that big screen came crashing down on my brother and Trevor Storm. The next week, they were at it again. The desire to be in that ring week in and week out -- it's something I truly respect. Regarding my body, It feels as good as it's ever been, I took the time off to rest, recover ... and that's what I did.

Jake, if we could, let's go back to your debut in I-Slash. What was going through your mind?

I really don't know what I was thinking. If you ever watched those Hannibal Lecter movies -- Matthew Reason had that kind of control on my mind. He reprogrammed what I was thinking and he essentially took control of who I was. There is a part in one of the movies when Lecter makes the doctor eat his own face ... I was saying words that I truly didn't believe, but I was saying them anyway. If I could take it back, I would, but you can't undo the past. You can try to fix the future but the past can't be changed.

Your contest with your brother was very one-sided. How was it like stepping with your brother in the ring?

He absolutely wiped the floor with me. I wasn't ready and that's really all I can say. I entered into an environment that I wasn't able to adapt to, not to mention, it was my brother I had to step into the ring with. The fight was between me and him, but there was also an internal fight inside of me that I wasn't able to overcome.

Your brother told you, "You made your bed, little brother ... you lie in it." What did that mean to you?

It was the point that I said to myself, "I gotta change my life." Justin was right. I caused everything that happened to me. I let my jealousy clog my head. Justin did what he had to do for himself; I should have done the same.

Your brother recently made an announcement that he indeed is carrying HIV and he has admitted he is homosexual. What are your thoughts on that?

He's my brother. Despite all what you seen on television, I love my brother. It doesn't matter to me if he's straight or gay; it's not an issue with me. What is an issue is that my brother has HIV. Justin, I hope you're listening or I hope you read this.. I love you ... you mean the world to mean and my heart is with you. It rips my heart to shreds knowing I can't be there for him right now, but I know that you can pull through. Justin is by far the strongest person I ever met and I am positive he can beat this like he's beatin' everything else that's come his way.

It must be very hard. Justin has set a legacy for the Arcola name. Do you feel you can carry that tradition, that name in PCW?

If you're asking me can I fill the shoes of Justin Arcola, the answer is no. I would never be able to fill the shoes of the greatest champion I-Slash has ever seen. I will tell you this, I will carry the name with the utmost respect and the utmost pride. I hope to one day be able to hoist the PCW title over my head and then, hopefully, Eugene, one day be able to carry that I-Slash title just like Justin did.

Jake, what can PCW expect from you?

Expect? heh. I don't know Eugene, but I will say one thing. Jake Arcola is going to be a man of honour and a man of action. I will do my absolute best to prove myself again.

Jake, we thank you for your time.

Thank you.

[Posted 10.27.2002]